U-M opener

Music was blaring and lights were shining and fans were screaming with anticipation as Derrick Green ran across the field in Michigan Stadium and took his place in the huddle with the first string.

At least, I’m fairly certain he was out there with the first string Saturday night during Michigan’s first night practice under the lights. It was hard to read numbers on the jerseys because Michigan’s running backs were constantly getting smothered by the defense.

Green was wearing a smaller jersey than a year ago, and he was wearing a smaller pants size than he wore as a freshman.

After losing more than 25 pounds, Green is in significantly better shape.

Coaches and teammates say he is quicker and faster and has more explosion than last year when he was, well, living large. Or Double XL, truth be told. But it was hard to tell during this practice if he is indeed faster or quicker or stronger because the line couldn’t block. Michigan’s defense was swarming all over him, tackling him after short gains, swallowing him like a giant amoeba.

The problem was the offensive line, a unit that lost two players to the NFL, which is a huge concern for the Wolverines.

A quick caveat: It is a mistake to make too much from a single practice. It’s like an NFL exhibition game: It whets the appetite, but there is no real substance there. Certainly Michigan was not going to reveal anything during this practice that could have been recorded by spies from Appalachian State or Notre Dame.

But it doesn’t matter who ends up running the ball for the Wolverines if they can’t put together a serviceable offensive line. If they can’t create holes and lanes, if they can’t move the ball on the ground, if they can’t take pressure off quarterback Devin Gardner, this team will be in serious trouble.

But getting back to Green.

After turning down offers from Alabama, Ohio State, USC, Auburn and Oregon, Green arrived at Michigan carrying a weighty title: No. 1 running back recruit in the country.

And then he put on the freshman 15.

Before you knew it, Green weighed 248 pounds. He was, in his own words, a giant “blob.” His waist size crept up to 40, or 42, depending on the day or the snack. “I wasn’t doing a lot before we went into spring ball,” Green said. “I regret coming in like that. … I wasn’t doing what I needed to be doing, to be prepared for the season.”

His freshman season was a major disappointment.

The No. 1 running back recruit in the country rushed for only 270 yards and scored two touchdowns. “I felt real sluggish, real slow,” Green said. “I knew it wasn’t me.”

To make it worse, Green was lazy off the field. He didn’t put in extra work, studying film or the playbook. He did the bare minimum, enough to get by but not enough to make much impact. “It was a humbling experience for me, to get my mind right and focus and know what I want to do,” he said.

He says the experience changed him, motivated him.

Now, Green has been transformed. He is on a strict diet and has cut his weight to 220 pounds.

“I had to change everything, my uniform size, my jersey size,” he said. “When I tried my pants on from last year, they were real loose and big, like falling down. I had to get refitted for those. I had to get a new jersey. I think I was in a 2XL last year, and now I’m in a large.”

His waist is around 36 now. “At the end of the day, you look at your body and think, ‘Man, you look good, compared to where you used to be.’ ”

Just as important, he is doing more work off the field, studying film and learning the playbook.

“I’m staying in Coach’s ear, trying to learn as much as possible, staying in the film room,” he said. “I promise you. You are going to see a different Derrick Green this year.”